The Effects of the Industrial Revolution on the Working Class as Represented by Gregor’s Transformation in Franz Kafka’s The Metamorphosis

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In Franz Kafka’s the Metamorphosis, the author conveys the consequences of the Industrial Revolution on the working class of society as they became increasingly dehumanized through Gregor Samsa’s transformation into a bug as he slowly loses his human characteristics and privileges as a human.
The novella is set in the early 1800’s, which is during the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution marked a period of technological advancement. As technology advancement increased, work at factories became popular. Workers began to abandon their craft and moved to urban areas to find jobs. Also, fewer workers were needed because machines began to replace their craft. Workers who lost their jobs due to the machines felt dehumanized because their craft was deteriorating. Furthermore, human connections also decreased as a result of the factory work scene.
Workers felt useless as machines took their place, which can be seen through Gregor’s transformation into a bug. Gregor Samsa is a salesman who sells cloth. His family is dependent on him because he works to pay off his parents’ debt. When his transformation into a bug occurs, he slowly loses each of his human characteristics. Gregor, who is highly depended on, becomes useless as he transforms into a bug, which is similar to how workers felt useless, when machines took over their jobs. Workers felt useless as their craft was required anymore.
Even after realizing his bug-like characteristic, Gregor is more worried about his job rather than being a bug:

What a strenuous occupation I’ve chosen! Always on the road, day out, day in. The rigors of the job are much greater than if I were working locally, and furthermore, the nuisances of traveling are always imposed upon me-the worries ...

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...nk pile” (57). This demonstrates the struggles of workers who lost their jobs to machines. After being victims of mechanization during the Industrial Revolution, they struggled to become a part of society. They felt stripped of their privileges, which is similar to Gregor’s transformation into a useless animal. Gregor found to be junk conveys workers feeling dehumanized. Workers were not contributing to society anymore as machines took over; hence it made them feel worthless.
Kafka’s response to the Industrial Revolution is touching as he represents the consequences on the working class society through the figurative transformation of Gregor Samsa into a bug. While Gregor is deprived of his human characteristics, such as his senses, he is also deprived of his connection with the world; Kafka’s conveys the feelings of the working society as they were dehumanized.

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